Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-03-29
REORGANIZATION OF THE DIS
TRICT MILITIA.
Cne President to Take Action Before
the National Drill.

THE MATTER CONSIDERED BY THE WAR DEPARTMENT
BROADER GENERAL TO HAVE COMMAND-OFFI-
GERS TO BE COMMISSIONED, AND PRIvATEs ENLISTED.
The failure Of Congress to pass the bill providing
1or tne reorganization of the District militia leaves
the local military companies in very anomalous
condition. especially as regards participation in
'he national DRILL They are all distinct and sepa-
rate from each other; the commanding officers
WIN perhaps one or two exceptions, do not hold
commissions, and the men are not regularly en-.
nsted. Under the rules and regulations for the
national drill none OF the local companies could
enter into competition. Ii by sufferance of other
organizations they should be allowed to compete
aney pr could mot be entitled to recee
acknowledged superiors of all other competitors
Win this view OF the CASE strong effort is being
mace 10 nave all the local militia reOrganiZed OH
sound military basis before the opening OF the ma
ti0nal DRILL in order that all possible objections to
tleir organization may be removed. The matter
mas Deen brought to the attention OF the War De.
partment, and IS now in the hands OF Adjutant
General Drum, who is giving it his personal atten-
tlon. AS soon as the best method has been decided
upon IL Will be submitted to the President for
action.
THE PROPOSED PLAN
is to secure an organization under the old law OF
1903, which empowered the President to commits
sion officers for the District militia Although
many OF the provisions OF the law referred to are
obsolete and ridiculous in the light OF the advance
ment in military organizations of the present. that
power is ii is said still operative and if exercised
will settle the whole question.
While the general plan has been practically de-
termned, there are details to be adjusted which
Will require careful consideration. The first step
IS to have the President commission somebody a
br1gadier-general of militia, who shall be in COM
mand OF all the different local organizations. II IS
understood that private citizen will be recon-
mended for the office, and not one OF the District
commissioners, as was recommended by the chief
OF ordnance.
NO CHANGE OF THE PRESENT ORGANIZATIONS.
It is not intended to change In any way the
present organization of the different companies,
for fear of arousing feelings OF discomfort and
jealousy. With a brigadier general in command,
IL Is proposed to secure through him commissions
Tor the officers OF the different organizations, and
then to regularly enlist the men belonging to
them. The enlistment may be only temporary.
and after the drill privateS who wish can be hon.
oraDly discharged. with credit for past services.
Ii, year from now, they wish to re-enlst. they
Will nave their honorable discharge papers to
SHOW. III no unexpected obstacle is encountered,
1t is thought that the above simple plan will solve
the problem OF the status OF the District militia,
ana VIII enable any OF the organizations to enter
the drill competitions on equal footing with the
national guard OF the States.
THE NATIONAL GUARD OUR ARMY IN CASE OF WAR.
"By the way" said an army officer to STAR re-
porter this morning. "the national guard viii be our
army In case OF war; and all that we can do to i'm
prove 1t should be done gladly and Immediately.
In the event OF war the regular army will probably
De practically dissolved in the militia and If it is
not IL should be. A regular army OF 81, 600 men
Tor 6O,OOO,OOO people Will amount to nothing in
time OF war. The army should be regarded as a
training school simply for the benefit of the
national guard in time Of war; Placing the
regular army officers at the disposal OF the gov
ernOrS OF the States to organize and assume COM
mand or the volunteer troops, would. think, be
times"